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For Teens

You’ve just heard the three words that every teen dreads: “YOU NEED BRACES!”

Braces! What now?

Don’t worry! Braces aren’t nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past. For many patients there is even an option to obtain your orthodontic correction using Invisalign – the clear way to straight teeth.

How long will I have to wear braces?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on three key factors:

Early treatment — Past Early treatment allows orthodontists to set up a foundation for orthodontic correction and monitor the growth of the jaw. Then when the patient is older,further orthodontic treatment can be recommended if it becomes necessary. Not everybody requires early orthodontic treatment, and in some cases it may be recommended that a patient wait until they are older to receive treatment.

What needs correction — The amount of treatment needed to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently, so while it may take one patient only 12 months to complete their treatment, it may take another patient 24 months. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.

YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances your orthodontist gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!

Braces Your Way!

Our practice offers a variety of braces, types and styles, to choose from. Some common options include:

Ceramic braces (InOvation-C)

Clear aligners (Invisalign)

Lingual braces

Traditional metal braces

What can I eat while wearing braces?

You’ve probably heard from your parents, friends, and even your orthodontist, the long list of foods and beverages that you should avoid while wearing braces. While it may seem like you’re giving up a lot, it is important to avoid creating situations that can slow down your treatment (i.e. detached brackets, bent wires, etc). Everyone wants to complete their treatment as quickly as possible so why not do everything you can to reach your goal?

Foods to avoid while wearing braces:

Chewy foods — bagels, licorice

Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice

Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum

Hard foods — nuts, hard candies

Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat while wearing braces:

Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks

Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts

Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice

Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats

Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes

Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans

Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice

Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Orthodontic braces are a big part of life for many people your age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today’s braces make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your next orthodontic checkup.